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    Willow

    4.1 (78 reviews)
    Closed Closed

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    WILLOW ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Trendy
    Intimate
    Romantic

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    Recommended Reviews - Willow

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    Reviews With Photos

    Autumn M.

    Third speakeasy of the night, willow has beautiful decorations. The door is in an alley with a willow tree on the door. We came in at about 12am so the kitchen was closed, I was hoping to get lamb chops and wings but the waitress said the kitchen closes in between 1030pm-12am. I ordered a lemon drop which was okay 5/10, the staff were prompt and we did not need a reservation. I am hoping to come back to enjoy the full experience.

    Menu
    Tara K.

    We stopped in for drinks before our dinner reservation at Lumen. First, the address on Times Square is not where you will find the entrance. Here's a tip... go to the opposite side of the building (which will be an alley, walk down the the gold door with a painted willow on it) press the doorbell and you will be let in. Kind of a cool entrance, you will be greeted and find a host stand in front of full length drapes. They will take you through the drapes into the dimly lit bar. Very moody and dark with lights here and there. There is a faux willow tree at the bar. Cozy seating areas around. I ordered the Elephant Tree cocktail that is made with gin, Italicus, lemon, mango and pineapple cordial. It was very tasty. My boyfriend ordered the Willow old fashioned, it was just ok. Honestly we all tasted it, it was weak, seemed very watered down. It arrived to the table with an attempt to make it smoked, the bartender took a disc off the top that looked like is was smoldering. The menu doesn't mention that it was smoked, I didn't taste the pecan syrup, and never noted the orange and chocolate bitters. It was very bland. Probably one of the worst old fashioneds that we've ever had. Too bad, it sounded so interesting. My sister ordered a glass of Cabernet Sauvignon. The bartender/server said they were out of that wine and brought her a substitute without asking. She was being polite and took it, but she didn't like that at all. We urged her to ask for something else, they did make her a margarita, that she liked much more. My brother ordered a Jameson and ginger, but they only had Tullamore Dew, which is fine. I'm not sure if it was just an inexperienced bartender, or if they were just out of stock on things. The Old Fashioned was just not good and seemed to be missing components and arrived with the attempt at smoking it. I personally would never order a drink or food that gets smoked, so that should be noted on the menu. The decor is cute, and the place has such great potential, I think having a more experienced bartender would have made the difference in the experience for us.

    Seating area
    Krit S.

    The music was great. The drinks were incredible for the value. (I'm from Vegas where we charge double for something at this standard.) Go say hi to Dre! Definitely excellent service. The whole spots a vibe. There's a tree in the middle of the bar that makes me feel like I'm drinking in someone's backyard. Would recommend.

    Shawn S.

    Cozy, quaint, and one of the best old fashioned I've had in awhile. Staff are so nice and accommodating. Perfect for date night.

    Mark D.

    The drinks were decent just not a big enough selection of whisky which is my favorite drink. I tried to order food but the kitchen was closed when I arrived. The service was nothing spectacular. I didn't feel comfortable with the overall experiences. The decor was on point though. Especially the Marvin Gaye artwork.

    Interior
    Malisa R.

    Sexy and intimate speakeasy right around the corner from Savannah Blue. My husband and I accidentally found it when we were trying to find the entrance to Savannah Blue. I tried pulling the door and got a sneak peak inside when the hostess came to the door. No signage, but beautiful gold door. She helped us find our way to Savannah Blue, but we came back post dinner. Reservations recommended since the space is small and intimate, but we were able to get a table. The bartenders, waiters, and staff here are so friendly! We started off with a complimentary drink from the bartender. My husband got the 'It's a Hot Drink' and I got 'Pursue Candy.' Both were so good, but I liked my husband's drink more. It was the perfect drink for a cold ish night. We stayed the night in the city, so we wanted to bar hop. I would 100% come back here with girlfriends for a night out.

    LaTina J.

    I love willow. I've been twice and both times it was good, not crowded. It has a very chill vibe with great music the staff are cool and very accommodating. The drinks are good as well. I will most definitely be returning

    Old fashion and shot.
    Constance B.

    Approach from the parking lot and knock on the metal door. You are let into a speakeasy vibe bar. Sat at the bar and had an array of drinks, several suggested by the friendly bar staff. One created a shot that very tasty, said it was his specialty. Great Detroit find!

    Inside
    Jenna C.

    On a Saturday night, Willow was giving us all the vibes and all the swank. We did have a little trouble finding the entrance since it's all the way in the back alley behind Savannah Blue but luckily someone pointed us in the right direction. Even though we were a little early for our reservation, the hostess was able to seat us right away and we opted to sit up at the bar under the giant willow tree. Music was playing in the background, not too loud, so we were still able to easily chat over drinks. The bartender was awesome and able to make a spin on an espresso martini for my sister, which tasted fabulous. I went with The Oaxacan Club first, which was very nice if you like mezcal. I then moved to "The Goat", which was my favorite of the two - refreshing and not too sweet. My sister's second drink was Purse Candy, but we both thought it was too sweet - definitely a miss for our palates. But overall, the craft cocktail menu is innovative and fun. The only drawback is the price - they don't note them anywhere but ours were in the $16-18 range plus they added a 20% tip automatically to the bill which we would have paid anyway but was a little presumptuous in my opinion. Not a big enough deal to take away from an enjoyable evening and drinks at Willow, and I'd still recommend as one of the best speakeasies in Detroit.

    Table and menu
    Dustin M.

    I absolutely loved the ambience in here! It was a bit difficult to find, but once inside we loved the decor and music. It's super small and intimate. The drinks were good, but for the price they could have been better. I can't speak for the food because we only got drinks. No complaints regarding the service.

    Rodrigo T.

    Speakeasy joints are something I always gravitate to. It's one of those places where whoever I brung with and I can have a nice chat and be in a relaxing atmosphere. Drinks are pretty good. I had the Breakers at Eventide which was pretty good. I actually enjoyed it. The hubby ordered a Bees Knees which was also very good as well. My only critique is that the cocktails are a little too sugar forward. We asked for a sugar free type mocktail for my mother and it was still very sugary. And the liqour selection is a bit lacking. Also the server didn't quite know what a bees knees was. A bit of knowledge about classic cocktails please. Other than that, the service was top knotch. Even though they command a high price for their cocktails. I don't mind it because it definitely weeds out the rambunctious high fiving too much testosterone boys. None of the, I just turned 21 crowds or the Bachelorette parties that are out of control. Just a great time with grown up people having grown up talks. Thank you so much for reading my review. I hope this helps with your decision making experience. Enjoy your awesome yelptastic day!!!

    Lo S.

    Cute spot to grab a post dinner cocktail. A little hard to find initially - it's behind savannah blue building.

    Great vibe and the Elephant Tree was amazing. Jada was wonderful. Great place and a dinner upstairs is a must as well.

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    6 months ago

    Was very nice inside and the drinks were good and we had a great time! Everyone was very friendly.

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    Page 1 of 2

    Ask the Community - Willow

    Review Highlights - Willow

    Highly recommend this lovely little Speakeasy in Times Square, right behind Savannah Blue.

    Mentioned in 7 reviews

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    Bad Luck Bar

    Bad Luck Bar

    4.2
    (233 reviews)
    0.2 mi
    $$$

    Bad Luck Bar is exactly the kind of place that makes you feel like you earned your cocktail before…read moreyou even order it. It is tucked away in an alley, and yes, the trash bins may briefly make you question your life choices. But once you spot the glass block window, you know you are in the right place. The second you walk in, the vibe completely changes. You are greeted by a friendly host, then brought into this tiny, dark, cozy little speakeasy that feels like it seats maybe 25 people total, including the bar. It is intimate in the best way, with a gorgeous liquor wall and a rolling ladder that makes the whole room feel dramatic without trying too hard. The drinks are the reason to come. They are creative, unusual, and genuinely unlike what you will find at a standard cocktail bar. Some of the spirit combinations sound like they should not work on paper, but somehow they absolutely do. The mixologists clearly know what they are doing, because every "wait, really?" ingredient pairing seems to turn into something balanced, interesting, and dangerously easy to appreciate. The only things to keep in mind are the size and the pricing. It can get busy quickly because it is so small, and cocktails can run anywhere from around $20 to over $100 depending on what you order. Not exactly a casual "oops, I had three" kind of place unless your wallet has been emotionally prepared. Bad Luck Bar is moody, memorable, and one of the more unique cocktail experiences in Detroit. It feels hidden, thoughtful, and just a little mischievous, which is exactly what a good speakeasy should be.

    A HIDDEN gem! It's nestled in an alley, so yes you will question if you are going the right way!…read moreLol Greeted by a host as soon as you enter and fair warning - - it's small and popular. Please make a reservation! Our wait was about 30-40 mins so we walked to another spot to have a drink and wait. It's a cozy lux vibe with an upscale cocktail menu. This is not your normal tequila and soda okay! Know before you go! Visit their website and preview the drink options if you don't have experience with this style of bar. I ordered the Forgotten Blossom because all things lychee has been my thing lately. The drink looks like water but it is not! lol It's strong drink + having aperitif in it. The waiter was attentive and checked in on us consistently. We even received a complimentary shot after being seated and complimentary birthday shots for the birthday folks! I thoroughly enjoyed myself, and I will be back real soon!

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    Willow - cocktailbars - Updated July 2026

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